Donny & Mollie: faith

I made a jeopardy game for family night this week that reviews the sermon on the mount
(Matthew 5-7). I thought I would share the link
Sermon on the Mount Jeopardy

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

21 Day Book of Mormon Reading Challenge

If you want to get into the best habit every- read the Book of Mormon every day.
Here is a list of readings for 21 days (it takes 21 days to establish a habit)

21 Day Book of Mormon Reading Challenge

_____1. 1Nephi 3:5-7, 4:1-18, ch8, ch11 (Gold Plates+ Lehi’s Dream)

_____2. 1Nephi 12-14 (Lehi’s Dream+Latter-day Prophecies)

_____3. 2Nephi 2 (The Fall)

_____4. 2Nephi 4, 2Nephi 5 (Nephi’s lament + manner of happiness)

_____5. 2 Nephi 9 (The Resurrection)

_____6. Jacob 2, Enos 1: 1-8 (Pride+ Chastity, Repentance)

_____7. Mosiah 2-3 (King Benjamin)

_____8. Mosiah 4-5 (King Benjamin)

_____9. Alma 5 (Pride Self Assessment)

_____10. Alma 17:1-3, Alma 22 (Teaching the King)

_____11. Alma 32-34 (the seed)

_____12. Alma 36 (Alma’s conversion)

_____13. Alma 39-42 (Repent + Plan)

_____14. Alma 24, Alma 53:10-22, 56:47-48, 57:21, Alma 48

(People of Ammon + Captain Moroni)

_____15. Helaman 3:20-32, Helaman ch5 (Rock Redeemer)

_____16. Helaman 13-15 (Samuel the Lamanite)

_____17. 3 Nephi 11-14 (Savior in America)

_____18. 3 Nephi 17-19 (Savior in America)

_____19. Mormon 8-9 (Book of Mormon prophecies, repent)

_____20. Ether 2-4, ch12 (Brother Jared, Faith)

_____21. Moroni ch7, ch10 (Gifts, Charity, Promise)

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Easter Eggs with Scriptures

This year we taped scriptures about Christ on our Easter eggs

for the kids to memorize before they eat the candy inside.

I picked a scripture from each topic in the Book of Mormon index

under the title "Jesus Christ."

Here is the link to the scripture list:

Easter Egg Scriptures

Saturday, September 16, 2017

We had an awesome experience last week reading the whole Book of Mormon with the young women in our ward Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday all day.
We listened to a sped up version (45%) and it takes 19.5 hours + meal and snack breaks.
It really strengthened my testimony of Christ and helped me see overview themes -
1- Repent and believe in Christ
2- Beware of Pride
3- Christ will deliver us- both now and eternally
4- Give to the poor. Pray for Charity
5- When we obey God he blesses/prospers us

Here's our schedule:
(Sadie helped give good ideas every couple of hours to keep it from being monotonous-
read aloud together, color, cut and paste in scripture mastery cards)
Also, our Bishop came and read a King Benjamin chapter
and our Young Men came and acted/read a Captain Moroni chapter

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Pioneer Trek

This summer we got to go on pioneer trek.
It was an A+ experience- spiritual, meaningful, fun.
The leaders organized it so well and everyone consecrated their talents.
I was in charge of the music, activities, and delegating the teaching of the stories.

ASH CAKES
One thing we did was make Ash Cakes:ash cake recipe

This is a pioneer food I loved when I went on trek as a youth.
You mix up the dough, then make patties, then place them on hot coals
Cook (5 min on each side), then serve with honey.
(Modern days= you cook it in the oven for 10 min, flip, 5 more minutes)

INGREDIENTS:
Makes 32
8 c. flour
4 t. salt
4 T. baking powder
1/2 c. oil or butter
2 c. water (+1/2c if using butter)

PIONEER GAMES:
-Annie I Over
-Don't Touch the Bucket
-Flour Sack Relay Race (Youth)
-3 Legged Race (Ma's & Pa's)

DANCES: This is an awesome website: geslisongroberg
1. Virginia Reel
2. Heel Toe (Cotton Eye Joe)
3. O Susanna
4. O Johnny O
5. The Handcart Song
6. Cumberland Squares
8. Zipper
9. Highland Fling (to Bagpipes)

MUSIC PLAN:
Fireside Week Before: "Come Take Your Place" by Hilary Weeks
1st Morning Devotional: "I am a child of God"
6th Crossing/Eminence: "The Spirit of God"
Levi Savage Presentation: "I'll Go Where you want me to Go"
Campfire: "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus"
Jens & Elsie reenactment: "Sweet Hour of Prayer/Ask in Faith"
Women's Pull: "As Sisters in Zion"
Ephraim Hanks: "I feel my Savior's Love"
Fireside: "Come Come ye Saints" (harmonica) + "I feel my Savior's Love" solo
River crossing: "Come Come Ye Saints (violin)
Rescue Bridge: "As Zion's Youth"
Rescue Statues: "'We'll Bring the World His Truth/As Sisters in Zion"
Martin's Cove: Harmonica before devotional; Violin playing on hill as enter cove walk
Veil Crossing Bridge: "Love one Another"
Dan Jones: "God Be with you" (harmonica)
Fireside: "As Zion's Youth" (guitar)
Rock Creek Hollow: "Praise to the Man" + "Amazing Grace"

HARMONICA SONGS:

UKULELE SONGS:

Friday, July 29, 2016

Family Laws

1. WORK
Family Laws and Pre-Set Consequences help me to keep high expectations without using anger to motivate. For years, I have used the phrase that work earns food, which was motivating, but sometimes it contradicted the basic duty of parents to providing food for their children- since it is a necessity of life. We tried work earning play and work earning money which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. All year I have been struggling over what the family law should be... does work earn food or play or money? I had an "a-ha" one night that it earns all 3!

Some work earns *FOOD (such as their assignment for helping prepare or grow the food)
1 exception-- they have to have a clean body and room before breakfast everyday.
(They are in charge of setting their own alarms + getting up and ready before family scripture study)
Some work earns PLAY/privileges (personal duties like their **family chore and homework)
They cannot go outside, play with friends, use technology, etc until their chore is done.
Some work earns ***MONEY (house/yard work that lightens parents' responsibilities)
I made a list of house and yardwork that needs to be done weekly and but a price on it that I was willing to pay them and let them sign up. They kept it for the whole month long.

*Since I have 6 kids, they each help cook on their assigned breakfast day, lunch day, and dinner day. Sunday is cereal and leftovers or I cook. If they refuse to do their meal, they cannot eat that meal that day... it never happens. My kids love helping me cook-they plan the meal with me so it's nutritious and something they like. This way I don't have to restrict their food anymore. As long as they are willing to help cook, they can eat as much as they want. If the meal runs out, I just stay loaded with carrots, bread, milk, eggs, peanut butter as options to fill up or snack on.

**They only have one family chore a day. It's either their breakfast day, their housework day, their lunch day, their laundry day, their dinner day, or their yardwork day.

***They earn money from, but they have to budget and pay for their own clothes, extra learning (½ sports), and fun.

2. HONORING PARENTS
I have been in massive training this summer with obedience, respect, and emotional control.
My goal is to be super kind yet not permissive of disrespect and defiance.
I've tried time outs, but what if the child is too big to take to time out or won't go?
This is the system we have worked out: (It is tough, but worth it)

There are 4 basic skills that children should have while interacting with parents
(This is from a book called, A House United)
1. Receive and Instruction (say "yes mom" and quickly obey and report back)
2. Receive a *Consequence (say "yes mom" and quickly do the consequence)
(jobs are not the consequence, they are a result of not receiving a consequence... see below for natural consequence ideas)
3. Receive a No Answer (say "yes mom" and drop the topic- no whining)
4. Disagree Appropriately (say "yes mom, may I suggest an idea I think is more fair"...no arguing)

If they cannot receive an instruction, consequence, or a no answer then I tell them they are 1 square below the privilege line. (which means they owe me 1 small job or act of obedience)
I then give the instruction a 2nd time. If they don't receive and do it, they drop 2 more squares below the privilege line.
I then give the instruction a 3rd time. If they don't receive and do it, they drop 3 more squares below the privilege line.

Usually they will obey an instruction by the 3rd time, if not- I just drop the topic and they have no privileges until they've done 30 minutes of work for refusing that instruction. In the meantime, if I have to give different instructions before they have earned those back, they can drop even more if they don't obey those instructions. The quicker they soften their heart, the quicker they get privileges back. I give them a list of jobs to chose from. They can pick from my 5 minute job list (1 square), my 20 minute job list (4 squares), or my 60 minute job lists (12 squares). They can also move up a square every time they obey an instruction right away that I give one out naturally.

*Consequence ideas:
-Don’t eat meal= Don’t get snacks

-Eat before prayer=wait 5 minutes to eat.

-Fight over toy/game=lose toy or pulled out of game for a period of time

-Name calling/verbal abuse= say 10 kind words or write letter of forgiveness + kindness or soap in mouth (swearing)

-Hurt someone=time out

-Bad for babysitter=pay babysitter

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Christlike Virtues

I am so thankful for the loving nature of Jesus Christ.

I have been studying his life and seeking to develop his virtues a lot lately.

I found a great method of accountability that I wanted to share.

In each interaction with my children, I ask myself which virtue I need

in order to fully love that person. (Usually it is patience, kindness or meekness)

Then I silently pray for that attribute and record the virtue and the situation

in a pocket journal (my phone).

I also record vices (usually selfishness, pride, roughness) and the situation.

At the end of the day, my goal is to be at least 80% of the time exercising virtues over vices.

(The reason I don't do 100% is because if I have one mess up during the day,

I will be tempted to just keep blowing it since I've already lost that day)

Recording it has helped me see patterns so I can be more conscious in vice prevention.

This method has really opened me up to access God's help/power to change my nature.

Meekness/Humility are required before any virtue can be developed.

(See Ether 12:6 "my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me")

(I am reading an awesome book by Elder Maxwell called "Meek & Lowly")

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Rubiks Cube Algorithm Analogy

Packer studies rubiks cube algorithms for hours.

He memorizes them, then practices and times himself.

If he just guesses, it only solves parts of it temporarily and

may mess up other parts.

During our family scripture study last week,

we read in 3Nephi 27:11 that man's ways

will only work for a season, then they have an end.

They may solve something temporarily, but mess up other things.

Christ's algorithms (or teachings for how to love people and handle situations)

are the only perfect solutions. We need to learn and memorize "his ways"

and apply them in each circumstance.

I think that is what is meant by "Always Remembering Him."

Remembering what he did or taught in similar situations.

I have been trying to teach my kids in each conflict they face what Christ did.

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ,

and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source

they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Memorizing & Remembering Christ this Christmas

We are on a memorizing kick.

It started off with our friends, the Brady's, inviting us to their recitation night.

I memorized "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" because I want to be more compassionate and caring.

That hymn, when recited like a poem, is such a touching story.

Donny recited "Good King Wenceslas," which he already had memorized, but he acted it out so well-

he is good at bringing out meaning with the way he says things.

Sadie recited "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?"

She really does live that hymn- she is constantly noticing needs and feelings of those around her.

Myriam memorized "The Living Christ," the testimony of the first presidency and 12 apostles.

The Living Christ

Now, the rest of the family has joined her in the challenge to memorize that by Christmas.

It has been an awesome experience for me.

As I have recited the words to myself during the day

and taught them to my children- explaining the meaning line by line-

I have really felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to me of Jesus Christ.

It has made this Christmas season a

season of personally seeking a stronger relationship with the Savior.

Today I finished memorizing The Living Christ with the younger kids

(we do a little bit every morning before school).
Reciting the Living Christ Christmas Morning
We have been studying the life of Christ in the New Testament during the week
and watching the Bible Videos that match what we have read on Sundays.
These are so well done- they have really helped us
understand the life and teachings of Jesus Christ visually.
We are going to watch them all together as one big movie
for family night right before Christmas.
Bible Videos

Myriam has already gone on to memorizing The Sermon on the Mount.

(She is a little bit of an over-achiever)

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Relationships are Magnifying Glasses

I believe that we all have or will have a relationship in our life that will bring out the worst in us.
In a weak relationship, we think that the other person is the problem,
when really they are just a magnifying glass to our problems.
They bring out the areas where we are weak and ungodly so that we are forced to face it...
The relationship begins to heal when we change our nature, not when they change.
The key to changing our own nature is tapping into God. We cannot change ourselves on our own... we need to tap into his power (grace) and access the atonement of Christ.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Bagpiping in Nauvoo

A VACATION OF FAITH AND FAMILY

This summer we had an awesome family vacation.

We went to the Nauvoo Pageant for 2 weeks

where Donny and Myriam bagpiped in the band and

the rest of our family dressed like bagpipers,

but we called ourselves "singing missionaries."

Here is a link to our family singing "Abide with Me"

Abide with Me

We learned harmony to some of the bagpipe songs and sang prior to them piping.

We handed out newspapers at the Sunday evening bagpipe concerts at local parks

and daily during the morning parade down Mullhollen Street. inviting people to come to the Pageant.

It was so worth our family vacation time because it was so meaningful.

It strengthened our testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ,

it developed our musical talents and missionary skills.

We also got to take a detour to Chicago to visit my sister, Haley,

who went "all out" hosting us.

When we came home, we sang and bagpiped on (Aug 20th)

at a local senior citizen center.

Here is Myriam and Donny bagpiping "Steam Train"

Steam Train

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Spiritual Breakfast

The last few months, I have read and discussed a standard

out of the Strength of Youth Pamphlet with my children during breakfast each day.

I LOVE the standards the Lord has set, and if followed,

we really are STRENGTHENED against the power of the devil.

Reading a small part and quizzing them has led us into such great discussions.

(I love meal times that have meaningful discussions

rather than silly or bad-mannered ones).

Now that we finished the youth pamphlet,

we have gone to the primary one- "Faith in God."

This program is also so inspired.

The church truly strengthens the family.

All the principles and standards are best implemented at home.

Hunter's Baptism

Hunter was baptized a member of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

on May 3, 2014 in Centerville.

He was baptized and confirmed by his dad.

We are so proud of his decision to follow Jesus Christ by being baptized.

He is really maturing and it is so rewarding to see him making good choices.

He has already read the Book of Mormon twice and loves it.

He will be a great missionary one day!
Here is a link to Holland practice the song she sang at his baptism:
Holland singing with grandma Jolene
Now that he is 8, we finally let him play soccer.
He learned really fast and became a solid player.